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The Police Act, 1861

Central

An Act for the Regulation of Police.

Act number
5 of 1861
Ministry
Ministry of Home Affairs
Department
Department of Internal Security
Enacted
22 Mar 1861
In force from
22 Mar 1861

Source: IndiaCode Portal, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Open on India Code Check against the official text before relying on it.

46 sections

  1. Section 1Interpretation clause.
  2. Section 2Constitution of the force.
  3. Section 3Superintendence in the State Government.
  4. Section 4Inspector-General of Police, etc.
  5. Section 5Powers of Inspector General Exercise of power.
  6. Section 6[Repealed.].
  7. Section 7Appointment, dismissal, etc., of inferior officers.
  8. Section 8Certificates to police officers.
  9. Section 9Police-officers not to resign without leave or two months’ notice.
  10. Section 10Police-officers not to engage in other employment.
  11. Section 11[Repealed.].
  12. Section 12Power of Inspector-General to make rules.
  13. Section 13Additional police-officer employed at cost of individuals.
  14. Section 14Appointment of additional force in the neighbourhood of railway and other works.
  15. Section 15Quartering of additional police in disturbed or dangerous districts.
  16. Section 15AAwarding compensation to sufferers from misconduct of inhabitants or persons interested in land.
  17. Section 16Recovery of moneys payable under sections 13, 14, 15 and 15A, and disposal of same when recovered.
  18. Section 17Special police-officers.
  19. Section 18Powers of special police-officers.
  20. Section 19Refusal to serve as special police-officers.
  21. Section 20Authority to be exercised by police-officers.
  22. Section 21Village police-officers.
  23. Section 22Police-officers always on duty and may be employed in, any part of district.
  24. Section 23Duties of police-officers.
  25. Section 24Police-officers may lay information, etc.
  26. Section 25Police-officers to take charge of unclaimed property, and be subject to Magistrates orders as to disposal.
  27. Section 26Magistrate may detain property and issue proclamation.
  28. Section 27Confiscation of property if no claimant appears.
  29. Section 28Persons refusing to deliver up certificate, etc., on ceasing to be police-officers.
  30. Section 29Penalties for neglect of duty, etc.
  31. Section 30Regulation of public assemblies and processions and licensing of the same.
  32. Section 30APowers with regard to assemblies and processions violating conditions of license.
  33. Section 31Police to keep order in public roads, etc.
  34. Section 32Penalty for disobeying orders issued under last three sections, etc.
  35. Section 33Saving of control of Magistrate of district.
  36. Section 34Punishment for certain offences on roads, etc.
  37. Section 35Jurisdiction.
  38. Section 36Power to prosecute under other law not affected.
  39. Section 37Recovery of penalties and fines imposed by Magistrates.
  40. Section 41[Repealed.].
  41. Section 42Limitation of actions.
  42. Section 43Plea that act was done under warrant.
  43. Section 44Police-officers to keep diary.
  44. Section 45State Government may prescribe form of returns.
  45. Section 46Scope of Act.
  46. Section 47Authority of District Superintendent of Police over village police.